ST. LOUIS - A federal district judge in St. Louis says the state of Missouri did not meet its burden in seeking to stop the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from raising water levels on the Missouri River this week.

The corps usually releases extra water in the spring to encourage spawning of an endangered fish.

Judge Jean Hamilton saw no evidence to show the corps is not following the law. She says the corps has "ample opportunity" to change its decision to release water if circumstances dictate.

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to stop the action because it could add to already heavy flooding. The corps would decide later Tuesday whether to release water after midnight.